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Gastrointestinal Disorders
Book chapter

Gastrointestinal Disorders

David Wong, Ben Sykes, Nathan M Slovis, Charles Brockus, Annette M McCoy and Bettina Dunkel
Equine Neonatal Medicine, pp.436-494
John Wiley & Sons, Inc
26/02/2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119617228.ch17
Appears in  Recent Faculty of Science and Engineering Publications

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Abstract

clostridium difficile endoscopy nutritional etiology pharyngeal dysphagia pharyngeal muscles physical therapy primary peristaltic reflex swallowing function
The swallowing function develops during fetal life as the primitive esophagus delivers swallowed amniotic fluid to the stomach via a primary peristaltic reflex. This reflex is generated by coordination with the pharyngeal phase of swallowing and relaxation of the esophageal sphincters. Dysphagia that occurs during the oral phase can be associated with congenital anomalies, absent oral reflexes, weak and/or uncoordinated suckle, immature biting and/or chewing, poor bolus propulsion, and/or poor bolus containment. Physical therapy may hasten recovery of pharyngeal dysphagia by strengthening the pharyngeal muscles. Endoscopy is a valuable diagnostic aid for the investigation of upper gastrointestinal tract disease in the neonatal foal. Nutrition plays a large role in fecal composition. Diarrhea of nutritional etiology is more often seen in foals receiving milk replacer. Clostridium difficile is the agent that causes antibiotic‐associated pseudomembranous colitis in people, and has also been identified as a significant nosocomial pathogen.

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